The increase in
violence against Christians, religious activities in government machinery, influencing
the history syllabus of the educational institutions, provocation of communal
violence, promotion of Hindutva agenda, since 1997- 98 has forced us to broach
once again, the issue of a secret circular purported to be of RSS.

We received a document
in October 1998 with heading "Secret Circular of RSS. It has 34 points,
addressed to the "local leaders" as "Instructions to the RSS-
officials to harass the origins among the oppressed - Adivasis, OBCs, Muslims,
and Christians". It contains highly provocative matter. We immediately
sent letters to the Prime Minister,
Home Minister, Punjab Chief Minister, and CBI demanding immediate inquiry into
the said circular and source of its origin. We also sent representation to the
leader of opposition to pursue this matter of serious implications. Till date
we have not heard from any one of them. The non-reaction from any of the government
agencies has cast a shadow of doubt on the role and stand of government in dealing
with the menace of communal violence.

The total absence
of effective measures to stop these actions against minority community and to
punish the guilty has pulled down the mask of secularism from the ruling political
party. In last more than two years since we reported the matter of secret circular;
the happenings all over in India are resonant of what is written in the circular.

There is sharp
escalation in violence against minority community. In 1996 there were seven
cases of anti-Christian violence, 24 in 1997, and 120 in 1998. In last six months,
there have been at least 35 attacks on Christian institutions and individuals.
There have been several acts of burning of religious literature, attacks on
missionary institutions,
Priests, and nuns. Yesterday a priest was killed in Jullandhar. Four bomb blasts
targeting churches took place in various parts of the country in a day. It is
certainly not `isolated criminal incidents' as the government has tried to project,
but a well thought out plan against a minority community.

Literature promoting
religious fanaticism and intolerance, hatred among different communities and
violence on name of religion, is being openly circulated in various parts of
India by fundamentalist organizations without any fear of the government.

Fundamental rights
of Freedom of religion and right to life guaranteed by the Constitution are
being denied to the citizens of our country. It is a very dangerous development.
Today a Secular, Democratic and United India is being put to the test by communal
and fundamentalist forces.

We strongly condemn
the failure of the government to provide protection to its citizens and ensure
their freedom of religion. We also protest against the patronizing of the criminal
element involved in such acts by the government officials and ministers.

We call upon all
the political leaders, democratic, and secular organizations, and right thinking
people to fight collectively to defeat the nefarious element spreading hatred
and killing innocent people in the name of religion. If strong steps are not
taken immediately to combat this hate war, it will weigh heavy on secularity,
sovereignty, and unity of our Country.